Gripper for cable railways



3 sheets-sheet 1.

Patented Jan. 26, 1886.

es BRYANT.

GRIPPBR FOR CABLE RAILWAYS.

(No Model.)

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(No Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 3. G. B. BRYANT.

GRIPPBR FOB CABLE BAILWAYS.

No. 334,845. Patented Jan. 261 18865L UPI..

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TENT GEORGE B. BRYANT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GRIPPER FOR CABLE RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 334,845, dated January 26,1886.

Application filed September 10, 1835. Serial No. 176,724. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonen B. BRYANT, of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Grippers for Cable Railways; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same.

My invention relates to grippers for cable l railways, and is an improvement more particularly upon the form shown in the Letters Patent of the United States granted to me on the 19th day of May, 1885, and numbered 317,967.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the device and its supporting-frame, the gripping-jaws being shown open and the supportingeroller for the cable being shown in position to hold the cable up. Fig. 2 is an end view of the gripper-bar, with the parts in position to grip the cable. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line x @o of Fig. 1, partly in side elevation, the gripperjaw being open and the supporting-roller swung aside to allow the cable to drop. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line y g/ of Fig. 2, with the jaws open. Fig. 5 is a side elevation. Fig. 6 represents a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 5.

In the drawings is shown a frame, F, on which rests the side bars, f f, supporting the yoke G of the guide-block, in which the gripper-bar slides. The frame is provided with sleeves g, which are slipped over the axles of the carand form asteady bearing for the frame, but at the same time tend to stiften the axles. The block H, in which the gripper-bar slides, has horizontal flanges h, which project over and rest upon the yokes G, being beveled on the outer edges to conform to the hollow curve of the central part of the yokes. The yokes have curved slots 1 l, enlarged at their ends to receive screw-bolts 2, which pass through the slots into the ends of the blocks. Under the heads of these bolts are washers 3, and when the bolts are screwed down they hold the block in position on one side or the other, as the case may be, the parts being adjusted so that the horizontal flanges of the block bear upon the yokes. This construction allows the block, and with it the gripper-bar, to be swung from one side to the other, and to be held in proper position to grip either the righthand or theleft-hand cable. The gripper-bar is represented at A, and is preferably of steel in the form of a plate, its sides being parallel with the line of the draft. It slides freely in the elongated slot in the block. The block is cast in a solid piece, and has a stud, 6, at one end, on which is pivoted one arm of the bell-crank lever 7, by which the gripperbar is raised and lowered. The angle of this bell-crank lever is pivoted to the bar A, and the other arm is connected to a rod or bar, 8, which extends to the front of the car, and is connected to mechanism within reach of the attendant and adapted to operate the bar within to raise or lower it. At the other end of the block is a stud, 9, mounted on a removable cross-piece held to the flanges of the block by screws. In this lug is a frictional roller, 10, against which the edge of the bar A bears as it is moved up and down by the bell-crank lever at the other end. The operation of the bell-crank lever causes the friction of the bar to be thrown mainly on the edge next to the removable stud, and this friction is taken up by the roller l0, set in that stud. To the lower end of the bar A, on one side, is screwed or bolted a castmetal plate, a, having ears 11, in which are the bearings of the bolt which serves as a pivot for the movablejaw B. This jaw carries the frictional rollers 12, that bear upon and grip the cable in the manner explained in my aforesaid patent; but in the present case, instead of trusting to the effect of gravity to remove the jaw from the cable when pressure is released therefrom, I have provided a spring, 13, lo-

cated between the jaw and the bar below thel pivotes bolt. The eccentric C also, which bears upon and forced in the movable jaw, is pivoted in arms 14, and is operated by a bar, 15, which is connected to a sliding bar, 16, working in the slot in the bar A. The eccentric C, however, is of an improved form. In order to give it a broader bearinglsurface, I have made it thicker,and have slotted it midway through its periphery, as shown at 30, and pivoted the working-arm in the slot. In a recess in the jaw is a roller having two bearing-surfaces, 17, adapted to the bearingsurfaces on the side ofthe slot in the eccentric C. This gives, besides broader bearing, an even IOO draft on the eccentric. The sliding bar which communicates motion to this eccentric is operated by a bell-crank lever, d, having its bearing end pivoted upon the bar A, and worked by a rod or bar,A e, ruiming to suitable mechanism within reach of the attendant. The cable is gripped in the same manner as in my patent above mentioned; but in order to prevent the cable from coming in contact with the parts of mechanism above it when it is in its ordinary position I form on one side of the lower end of the bar A a stud, 17 (one on each edge) which projects across the space occupied by the cable when'between the gripping-jaws, so that the cable cannot rise above them or be injured by coming in contact with any sharp corners.

In my aforesaid patent is shown a spindle carrying a roller in front ofthe gripping-jaws for the purpose of supporting the cable in its position between the jaws. For the purpose of adapting this to use on lines of cable roads having other cables ruiming across them, I have made this 'spindle and its roller removable from its position beneath the cable. This roller K is mounted upon a pivoted lever 0r arm, being pivoted on the forward edge of the grip-jaw. rIlhe arm 7a projects back on its bearing, as shown at Z, and is connected by a link, 18, to the lower arm of the bell-crank lever m, pivoted at its angle on the outside of the fixed jaw. The other arm is connected by a link, 19, to the arm 20 on the lower end of the bar o, which slides in a slot in the bar A, and is operated by mechanism hereinafter described. The swinging arm k is reduced to form a spindle, on which is slipped the roller K, which bears against a shoulder, 2l, on the arm. In order to give additional vertical support to the free end of the arm, I provide a bracket, 32, the lower end of which is held by a bolt, on which the arm 7c is pivoted, and the other end is turned up and made with a hole, through which the spindle passes, so that the roller is held between the shoulder and the upturned end of the bracket. Outside of the bracket I place upon the spindle a sleeve, 22, the upper surface of which is flush with that of the roller,vto give an even bearing-surface for the cable, the sleeve being tapering toward its outer end, so that it may pass readily under the cable. It is held upon the spindle by a setscrew. The spindle projects beyond the sleeve,

. and is in range with the bracket q, having inclined upper surface, on which the spindle or sleeve rides when the arm goes into place unv u bell-crank lever, s, one arm ofwhich is pivoted upon the bar A and the other arm pivoted to the rod or bar 2l, which extends to mechanism within reach of the operator, whereby it is moved back and forth. The angle of the bellcrank lever is pivoted at 25 to the upper end of the slide O.

The lateral adjustment orl swing which is given tothe gripper-bar is, as above stated, to be used in connection with duplicate cables. There is always the liability that the cable, or some strands thereof,will break, and this causes delay and great embarrassmentin the running of the road. I propose to arrange the two cables side 'by side, and they may run at equal or unequal rates. If running at unequal rates, the gripper may be shifted from the slower to the faster when the conductor on any car desires to make up time.

It will be apparent that there are three rods or bars, e, 8, and 24, which extend to the forward end of the car, and they are attached to suitable handles or levers, whereby the various mechanisms are operated.

For convenience of the attendant,I arrange mechanism whereby he can perform part of the labor by operating treadles or foot-levers, and part by pulling the hand-lever. By this arrangement the experienced attendant is enabled promptly and certainly to operate the necessary mechanism to stop the car in any emergency.

The rod or bar connected to the grippingv mechanism extends to a foot-lever on the left side. The rod or bar connected to the raising or lowering mechanism runs to a foot-lever on the right side, and the lever which .swings the cable-supporting arm is connected to a lever, 34, adapted to the right hand of the attendant, leaving his left hand free for operating the ordinary brake mechanism. I have not illustrated all these connections, as they will be obvious to thosel skilled in the art.

Manifestly connections may be changed without material difference, though that whichv I have indicated is the most convenient.

It will be observed that while the car is running the arm which supports the cable may remain in its position across the jaw and while the jaws are opened.

It will be apparent that great inconvenience must arise in any attempt to oil the frictionrollers on the grippers or supporting-arms. In fact it is ordinarily impracticable. To remedy this,I cast the rollers with oil-cupsin their ends. These oil-cups have suitable passages for the oil to flow in regulated quantities in the bearings. I prefer to make them in accordance with Letters Patent granted to me on the 25th of April, 1876. A sufficient amount of oil can be placed in the cups to allow them to run a long time, and the device renders it practicable to keep the rollers oiled. The cups are shown at 33.

In running the car it will be understood that the lowering mechanism is operated only when the cable has been dropped and itis necessary IOO IIO

to pick it up,and this occurs only at the crossing or when the gripper is shifted from one rope to another.

I claim as my inventionv 1. The frame supported upon the axles of the car, yokes G, resting upon the frame, a block, and the gripper-bar sliding vertically therein, a bell-,crank lever pivoted upon the block and combined with mechanism for raising and lowering the gripper-bar, all substantial] y as described.

2. The yokes resting upon the frames and hollowed upon their upper sides, the block carrying the gripper-bar adapted to rest thereon, and screw-bolts passing through slots in the yokes and into the ends of the block, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the block and the gripper-bar, the bell-crank lever 7, pivoted on the lug, in combination with the friction-roller on the stud 9, substantially as described.

4. In combination with the fixed jaw, the movable jaw pivoted thereto, aspring between the two adapted to keep them apart, and a cam mechanism for pressing the pivoted jawk against the cable, consisting of the eccentric supported from the bracket-arms 14, and the lever 15, for operating the same, substantially as described.

5. In combination with the movable jaw, -the eccentric having its central slot, the connecting-bar 15, pivoted within the slot in the eccentric, and the roller pivoted in the Jaw having two bearingsurfaces, substantially as described. l

6. In combination, the pivoted arm k, and friction-roller mounted thereon, a mechanlsm consisting of a link, 18, bel1-crank lever m, and sliding bar for swinging said arml lc luto and out of place, substantially as described.

` 7 The combination, with the pivoted arm, of the link 18, the bell-crank lever Jm, the link 19, arm 20, bar o, and the mechanism for operating the bar o, substantially as described.

8. rIhe combination, with the swinging arm la, of the bracket 32, substantially as described.

9. In combination with the swinging bar and spindle, the bracket q, xed to the movable jaw, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE B. BRYANT.

Witnesses:

FRANK SCHMIDT, C. PENDERGAST. 

